Hardwick reelected to MAPE board of directors

Phil Hardwick

Phil Hardwick, coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University, has been elected to the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education Board of Directors for the 2013-14 term. Hardwick is past president of MAPE, and has served on the board for several years.

“One of the best economic development projects is improvement of local schools through school-community partnerships," Hardwick said. "That's what MAPE is all about, and it’s why I continue to be involved with MAPE.”

At the Stennis Institute, Hardwick works with communities and economic development organizations on strategic planning and leadership development. He also serves as state director of the Mississippi Appalachian Higher Education Initiative, a successfully proven educational program that encourages Mississippi Appalachian students to pursue a post-secondary education.

Hardwick received his undergraduate degree from Belhaven University and his MBA from Millsaps College. He is also a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government executive program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. His award-winning column appears bi-weekly in the Mississippi Business Journal. In his spare time he writes mystery novels.

Hardwick and fellow board members are coordinating MAPE's next fundraising event, the Winter-Reed Partnership Award, which will be presented on Oct. 1 to Aubrey Lucas in honor of his lifelong contributions to education in Mississippi. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting MAPE at 601-605-0577 or visiting www.mapie.org.

Individual tickets for the awards banquet are $75 and may be purchased online at www.mapie.org or from MAPE, P.O. Box 2803, Madison, MS 39130.

MAPE has served as a statewide network of educators and community partners since 1984 and was designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1994. MAPE is committed solely to providing training and materials to help build local support for the success of all students.